Minimize middle-of-line contact line shorts

ABSTRACT

Semiconductor structures and methods of forming such structures are disclosed. In an embodiment, the semiconductor structure comprises a substrate, a dielectric layer, and a plurality of gates, including a first gate and a pair of adjacent gates. The method comprises forming gate caps on the adjacent gates, including etching portions of the gate electrodes in the adjacent gates to recess the gate electrodes therein, and forming the caps above the recessed gate electrodes. Conductive metal trenches are formed in the dielectric layer, on the sides of the first gate; and after forming the trenches, a contact is formed over the gate electrode of the first gate and over and on one of the conductive trenches. In embodiments, the contact is a gate contact, and in other embodiments, the contact is a non-gate contact.

BACKGROUND

This invention generally relates to semiconductor structures, and morespecifically, to preventing trench silicide shorts in semiconductorstructures.

In the formation of semiconductor devices, it is beneficial to provideboth desired electrical contact between certain regions of the devicesformed and also to prevent contact between various other regions of thedevices formed in the substrate. As the technology advances, allowingfor the formation of smaller and smaller devices, it is increasinglydifficult to achieve the desired electrical contacts while alsopreventing undesired electrical shorts from developing.

For instance, in some semiconductor structures, conductive line-typedevice level contacts are formed between gates. These device levelcontacts are referred to as trench silicide regions or trench silicides.Insulating spacers are used to separate the trench silicides from thegates. However, as the gate caps are etched, portions of theseinsulating spacers may also be etched away. Subsequently, when metal isdeposited on the gate, metal may fill some of the space previouslyfilled by the etched away spacer and form an undesired electricalcontact, or short, between the trench silicide and the gate. Theabove-described processing is performed in the middle of the procedureused to fabricate the semiconductor structure, and thus theabove-discussed shorts are referred to as middle-of-line contact shorts.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention provide semiconductor structures andmethods of forming such structures.

In an embodiment, the semiconductor structure comprises a semiconductorsubstrate, a dielectric layer on the substrate, and a plurality of gateslocated within the dielectric layer, above the substrate, the pluralityof gates including a first gate and a pair of adjacent gates on sides ofthe first gate, and each of the gates including a gate electrode. Themethod comprises forming gate caps on the pair of adjacent gates,including etching portions of the gate electrodes in said adjacent gatesto recess the gate electrodes therein, and forming the caps on saidadjacent gates above the recessed gate electrodes; and masking the firstgate during the etching. The method further comprises forming conductivemetal trenches in the dielectric layer and on the sides of the firstgate, between the first gate and the adjacent gates, each of the metaltrenches being spaced from and electrically separated from the firstgate; and after forming the conductive metal trenches, forming a contactover and on the gate electrode of the first gate and one of theconductive trenches to connect electrically the first gate and said oneof the conductive metal trenches.

In an embodiment, the forming the contact includes depositing a metalmaterial over and into contact with the first gate and said one of themetal trenches to form the contact in electrical contact with the firstgate and said one of the metal trenches while keeping the gateelectrically separated from a second of the conductive metal trenches.

In embodiments, the forming the contact further includes forming aninsulating layer over the series of gates and the conductive metaltrenches, and removing a portion of the insulating layer to form an openarea over and extending to the gate electrode of the first gate and theone of the conductive metal trenches; and

the depositing a metal material includes depositing a metal fill in saidopen area to form the contact.

In one embodiment, the removing a portion of the insulating layerincludes maintaining the insulating layer over the second of theconductive metal tranches; and the depositing a metal fill includesusing the insulating layer to keep the metal fill separated from thesecond of the conductive metal trenches to keep the first gateelectrically separated from the second of the conductive metal trenches.

In embodiments, the forming the contact includes depositing a conductivematerial above and on the first gate and the conductive metal trenches;and etching away a portion of the conductive material from a second ofthe conductive metal trenches to form the contact in electrical contactwith the first gate and said one of the metal trenches while keeping thefirst gate electrically separated from the second of the conductivemetal tranches.

In embodiments, the contact is a gate-contact; the semiconductorstructure defines a top plane; the dielectric layer and the plurality ofgates extend downward from said top plane; the etching portions of thegate electrodes in the adjacent gates includes etching the gateelectrodes in the adjacent gates inward from said top plane; and theforming conductive metal trenches in the dielectric layer includesforming the conductive metal tranches after the caps are formed on theadjacent gates, and forming the conductive metal trenches inward fromsaid top plane.

In an embodiment, the method comprises forming gate caps on the pair ofadjacent gates; and after forming the gate caps, forming conductivemetal tranches in the dielectric layer and on the sides of the firstgate, between the first gate and the adjacent gates, each of the metaltrenches being spaced from and electrically separated from the firstgate. The method further comprises, after forming the conductive metaltrenches, forming a contact over the gate electrode of the first gateand over and on one of the conductive trenches to connect the contactelectrically with said one of the conductive metal trenches.

In embodiments, the forming the contact includes depositing a metalmaterial over the first gate and over and onto said one of the metaltrenches to form the contact in electrical contact with said one of themetal trenches while keeping the first gate electrically separated froma second of the conductive metal trenches.

In an embodiment, the forming the contact further includes forming aninsulating layer over the plurality of gates and the conductive metaltrenches, and removing a portion of the insulating layer to form an openarea over the gate electrode of the first gate and over and extending tothe one of the conductive metal trenches; and the depositing a metalmaterial includes depositing a metal fill in said open area to form thecontact.

In an embodiment, the depositing the metal fill includes maintaining themetal fill separated from the gate electrode of the first gate to keepthe first gate electrically separated from the contact and the one ofthe conductive metal trenches.

In embodiments, the forming a contact includes depositing a conductivematerial above the first gate and above and on the conductive metaltrenches; and etching away a portion of the conductive material from asecond of the conductive metal trenches to form the contact inelectrical contact with said one of the metal trenches while keeping thefirst gate electrically separated from the conductive metal tranches.

In embodiments, the contact is a non-gate contact; and the forming acontact further includes forming an insulating layer over said second ofthe conductive metal trenches to keep the contact and said one of theconductive metal trenches electrically separated from said second of theconductive metal trenches.

Embodiments of the invention provide a semiconductor structurecomprising a semiconductor substrate; a dielectric layer on thesubstrate; and a plurality of gates located within the dielectric layer,above the substrate, the plurality of gates including a first gate and apair of adjacent gates on sides of the first gate, each of the gatesincluding a gate electrode, and each of the adjacent gates including agate cap. A pair of conductive metal trenches are formed in thedielectric layer, on the sides of the center gate, between the centergate and the adjacent gates; and a gate contact is positioned over andon the gate electrode of the first gate and one of the conductivetrenches to connect electrically the first gate and said one of theconductive metal trenches.

In embodiments, the contact includes a metal material deposited over andinto contact with the first gate and said one of the metal trenches toform the contact in electrical contact with the first gate and said oneof the metal trenches while keeping the first gate electricallyseparated from a second of the conductive metal trenches.

In embodiments, the semiconductor structure further comprises aninsulating layer over the second of the conductive metal trenches tokeep the first gate electrically separated from the second of theconductive metal trenches.

In an embodiment, the insulating layer electrically separates thecontact from the second of the conductive metal trenches.

Embodiments of the invention provide a semiconductor structurecomprising a semiconductor substrate; a dielectric layer on thesubstrate; and a plurality of gates located within the dielectric layer,above the substrate, the plurality of gates including a first gate and apair of adjacent gates on sides of the first gate, each of the gatesincluding a gate electrode, and each of the adjacent gates including agate cap. A pair of conductive metal trenches are formed in thedielectric layer, on the sides of the center gate, between the centergate and the adjacent gates; and a non-gate contact is positioned overthe gate electrode of the first gate and over and on one of theconductive trenches to connect the contact electrically with said one ofthe conductive metal trenches.

In embodiments, the contact includes a metal material deposited over thefirst gate and over and onto said one of the metal trenches to form thecontact in electrical contact with said one of the metal trenches whilekeeping the first gate electrically separated from a second of theconductive metal trenches.

In embodiments the metal fill is maintained separated from the gateelectrode of the first gate to keep the first gate electricallyseparated from the contact and from the conductive metal trenches.

In an embodiment, the first gate includes a gate cap separating the gateelectrode of the first gate from the contact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a group of gates in a semiconductor structure with metaltrenches between the gates.

FIG. 2 illustrates the results of an oxide etching process performed onthe gates of FIG. 1, and in which parts of the spacer between the middlegate and an adjacent metal trench are removed.

FIG. 3 depicts an electrical short formed between the middle gate and anadjacent metal trench.

FIG. 4 shows a group of tungsten gates on a semiconductor structureafter a chemical mechanical polish.

FIG. 5 shows the gates of FIG. 4 with a mask over the middle gate.

FIG. 6 depicts the gates of FIGS. 4 and 5 after two of the gates havebeen recessed.

FIG. 7 illustrates the gates of FIG. 6 after SiN caps have been formedon the recessed gates.

FIG. 8 shows the gates of FIG. 7 after trench-silicides have been formedbetween the gates.

FIG. 9 shows the gates of FIG. 8 after an oxide deposit on the gates.

FIG. 10 illustrates the gates of FIG. 9 with a gate contact area formedover the center gate.

FIG. 11 illustrates an alternate arrangement in which a non-gate contactarea is formed over the center gate.

FIG. 13 shows a group of tungsten gates on a semiconductor substrateafter a chemical mechanical polish.

FIG. 14 depicts the gates of FIG. 13 after two of the gates have beenrecessed.

FIG. 15 depicts the gates of FIG. 14 after SiN caps have been formed onthe recessed gates.

FIG. 16 illustrates the gates of FIG. 15 after trenches have been formedbetween the gates.

FIG. 17 shows the gates of FIG. 16 after a tungsten deposition on thegates.

FIG. 18 shows the gates of FIG. 17 with a mask on the tungsten layer.

FIG. 19 illustrates the gates of FIG. 18 after portions of the tungstenlayer have been removed.

FIG. 20 shows the gates of FIG. 19 with a metal oxide deposited on theSiN caps.

FIG. 21 shows an alternate arrangement where the metal layer over themiddle gate is electrically separated from that gate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description ofvarious embodiments and is of intended as a limitation of the invention.For the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forthin order to provide a thorough understanding of examples of embodimentsof the invention. It should be apparent, however, that embodiments ofthe invention may be practiced without these specific details, or withan equivalent arrangement. Also, in other instances, well-knownstructures and components are shown in block diagram or schematic formin order to avoid obscuring these structures and components.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to semiconductor structures inwhich metal trenches are formed between gates. As discussed above, inthese structures, insulating spacers separate these metal trenches fromthe gates. As the gate caps are etched, portions of these insulatingspacers may also be etched away. Subsequently, when metal is depositedon the gate, metal may fill some of the space previously filled by theetched away spacer and form an undesired electrical contact or shortbetween the metal trench and the gate.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate how such a short develops.

FIG. 1 shows a plurality of gates 12 formed above a substrate 14. A workfunction metal (WFM) 16 is deposited on the substrate, between each gateand the substrate, and a SiN cap 20 is formed above each gate. Metaltrenches 22, referred to as trench silicides, are located between thegates, and spacers 24 separate the trench silicides from the gates.

In the formation of the semiconductor devices, contacts are formed abovesome of the gates. To form a contact above a gate, the gate cap isetched away and a metal is deposited over the gate.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, when a gate cap is etched away, portions ofadjacent spacers may also be etched away, forming an open space 30between the gate and an adjacent trench silicide. Later, as shown inFIG. 3, when a metal 32 is deposited on the gate, some of this metal isdeposited in the space between the trench silicide and the gate, formingan undesired metal connection 34 or bridge between the trench silicideand the gate.

FIGS. 4-11 show a procedure for forming the desired contact above a gatewithout forming the trench silicide short.

FIG. 4 shows a portion of a semiconductor structure 40 comprising asubstrate 42 and a plurality of gates 44, 46, 50 formed in an interlayerdielectric 52. Each gate includes a gate dielectric 54 and a metalelectrode 56, and a spacer 60 extends around each gate. With theembodiment shown in FIG. 4, the metal electrode 56 is tungsten, and FIG.4 shows the structure after a chemical-mechanical polish has beenperformed to planarize the top surface of the tungsten. Also, in thisstructure, a work function metal (WFM) 62 is deposited on the substrate42, between the substrate and each gate.

Typically substrate 42 is a whole or a portion of a semiconductor waferformed of any semiconducting material including, for example, Si, Ge,SiGe, SiC, SiGeC, InAs, GaAs, InP or other like III/V compoundsemiconductors. Substrate 42 can be the buried insulator and asupportive semiconductor layers of an SOI wafer(semiconductor-on-insulator), ETSOI wafer (extremely thinsemiconductor-on-insulator), or SiGeOl wafer. Alternatively, substrate42 can include regions of non-semiconductor material which could be adielectric material such as silicon dioxide.

Overlying the substrate 42 and substantially surrounding each gatestructure 44, 46, 50 is an interlayer dielectric (ILD) 52. The ILD 52can include one or more conventional dielectric materials such as:silicon nitride (Si₃N₄), silicon oxide (SiO₂), fluorinated SiO₂ (FSG),hydrogenated silicon oxycarbide (SiCOH), porous SiCOH,boro-phosho-silicate glass (BPSG), silsesquioxanes, carbon (C) dopedoxides (i.e., organosilicates) that include atoms of silicon (Si),carbon (C), oxygen (O), and/or hydrogen (H).

The gate dielectric 54 can be an oxide, nitride, and/or oxynitride. Inone example, the gate dielectric 54 can be a high k material having adielectric constant greater than silicon dioxide. Exemplary high kdielectrics include, but are not limited to, HfO₂, ZrO₂, La₂O₃, Al₂O₃,TiO₂, SrTiO₃, LaAlO₃, Y₂O₃. In some embodiments, the gate dielectric canbe a multilayered structure comprising different gate dielectricmaterials, e.g., silicon dioxide, and a high k dielectric material.

The gate dielectric 54 can be formed by any deposition techniqueincluding, for example, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), plasma enhancedchemical vapor deposition (PECVD), physical vapor deposition (PVD),sputtering, or atomic layer deposition (ALD). The gate dielectric oftenhas a thickness in a range from 1 nm to 10 nm, though other thicknessescan be employed.

The electrode 56 can be any conductive material including, for example,doped polysilicon, an elemental metal (e.g., tungsten, titanium,tantalum, aluminum, nickel, ruthenium, palladium and platinum), an alloyof at least two elemental metals, an elemental metal nitride (e.g.,tungsten nitride, aluminum nitride, and titanium nitride), an elementalmetal silicide (e.g., tungsten silicide, nickel silicide, and titaniumsilicide) or multilayered combinations thereof. The electrode layer canbe formed utilizing conventional deposition such as CVD, PECVD, PVD,ALD, etc., and conventional silicidation if the electrode is a silicidematerial.

As mentioned above, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, a work functionmaterial (WFM) 62 is located between substrate 42 and gate 44, 46, 50.The WFM may be, for example, TiN, and the material may be grown inplace, above substrate 42. The WFM improves fill-in of the metalmaterial, which lowers gate resistance in the device.

In embodiments of the invention, caps are formed over gates 44 and 50,but not over gate 46. FIGS. 5-7 illustrate this. Generally, as shown inFIG. 5, a mask 66 is used to cover gate 46. The upper portions of thetungsten in gates 44 and 50 are removed, as shown in FIG. 6. Mask 66 canthen be removed, and, as shown in FIG. 7, caps 70 are formed abovetungsten 56 in gates 44 and 50.

Gate cap 70 can be any material used as a hard mask such as siliconoxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, a dielectric metal oxide, adielectric metal nitride, a dielectric metal oxynitride, or acombination thereof. In some embodiments, gate cap 70 can be in therange of 25 nm to 100 nm thick. The material choice may be dictated byan objective to mask certain structure, such as the gate electrode, fromprocessing steps on other portions of the structure.

After the gate caps are formed, trench silicides are formed. Withreference to FIG. 8, trenches 72, 74 are formed into dielectric material52, extending generally parallel to and spaced from gates 44, 46, 50. Inthis embodiment, trenches 72, 74 are separated from gate 46 not just bygate spacer 60 but also by a thickness of dielectric material 52. Anysuitable etching process may be used to form the trenches.

A metal film 76 is formed in trenches 72, 74, and a metalsilicide-forming metal 80 is deposited in the trenches. Metal 80 can be,for example, Ni, Pt, Co, and alloys such as NiPt. An optional diffusionbarrier layer (not shown) such as, for example, TiN or TaN can bedeposited atop the metal silicide-forming metal 80.

As shown in FIG. 9, an oxide layer 82 is deposited over gates 44, 46,50, and a portion of the oxide 82 over gate 46 and trench silicide 74 isetched away, forming open area 86. Any suitable processes may be used todeposit this oxide and to etch away the portion above gate 46 to formarea 86.

With reference to FIG. 10, a metal liner 90, such as TiN, is formed inarea 86, and this area is filled with a metal, forming a gate-contactarea 92. A CMP that stops on the oxide may be used to planarize the topsurface of the metal fill 92.

In this embodiment, contact 92 is in electrical contact with gate 46 andtrench silicide 74. At the same time, the gate 46 is electricallyseparated from trench silicide 72.

In an alternate arrangement, illustrated in FIG. 11, a non-gate contactarea 94 is formed above gate 46. In this arrangement, the tungsten inthe gate 46 is etched and a cap 96 is formed over the gate, similar togates 44 and 50. Oxide liner 82 is formed over the gates 44, 46, 50, anda portion of the oxide liner is etched away and then filled with metalliner 90 and with contact 92.

With the arrangement shown in FIG. 11, contact area 92 is in electricalcontact with trench silicide 74 but not with gate 46, and the gate 46 iselectrically separated from both trench silicides 72 and 74.

FIGS. 12-21 show an alternate procedure.

In embodiments of the invention, the procedure starts with the deviceshown in FIG. 12. FIG. 12, similar to FIG. 4, shows a semiconductorstructure 100 comprising a substrate 102 and a plurality of gates 104,106, 110 formed in an interlayer dielectric 112. Each gate includes agate dielectric 114 and a metal electrode 116, and a spacer 120 extendsaround each gate. With the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the metalelectrode 116 is tungsten, and FIG. 12 shows the structure after achemical-mechanical polish has been performed to planarize the topsurface of the tungsten. A work function metal (WFM) 122 is deposited onthe substrate 102, between the substrate and each gate 104, 106, 110.

With reference to FIGS. 13-15, SiN caps are formed on gates 104 and 110.As shown in FIG. 13, a mask 124 is used to cover gate 106. The upperportions of the tungsten 116 in gates 104 and 110 are removed, as shownin FIG. 14. Mask 124 can then be removed and, as shown in FIG. 15, caps126 are formed above the tungsten in gates 104 and 110.

Gate caps 126 can be any material used as a hard mask such as siliconoxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, a dielectric metal oxide, adielectric metal nitride, a dielectric metal oxynitride, or acombination thereof. In some embodiments, gate caps 126 can be in therange of 25 nm to 100 nm thick. The material choice may be dictated byan objective to mask certain structure, such as the gate electrode, fromprocessing steps on other portions of the structure.

After SiN caps 126 are formed, trench silicides are formed. As shown inFIG. 16, trenches 130 and 132 are formed into dielectric material 112,extending generally parallel to and spaced from gates 104, 106, 110. Inthis embodiment, trenches 130 and 132 are separated from gates 104, 106,110 not just by gate spacers 120 but also by a thickness of dielectricmaterial 112. Any suitable etching process may be used to form thetrenches 130 and 132.

With this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, after trenches 130 and 132are formed, a metal layer 140 is deposited in the trenches and also overthe tops of gates 104, 106, 110. A thick layer of tungsten 144 isdeposited over metal layer 140 and gates 104, 106, 110. Any suitableprocedure may be used to deposit the tungsten.

With reference to FIG. 18, after the thick tungsten deposit, a contactarea mask 150 is placed over a portion of the tungsten 144, above trenchsilicide 132 and extending above most, but not all, of gate 106.

The tungsten not covered by the mask is etched away, as shown in FIG. 19at 152. In this etching process, the portion of metal layer 140 on topof the gates and not covered by mask 150 is also etched away. Inaddition, the trench silicide in trench 130 is recessed, and an upperportion of tungsten 116 of gate 106 and a portion of metal layer 140 onthis part of gate 106 may also be etched away, as depicted in FIG. 19.This etch leaves a tungsten portion 154 above gate 106 and trench 132.After this etch, mask 150 is removed. Any suitable etch may be used, andfor example, a reactive ion etch may be used.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, an oxide 160 is then deposited to the sidesof the remaining tungsten portion 154. This tungsten 154 forms a gatecontact area above and in electrical contact with gate 106 and trenchsilicide 132. At the same time, gate 106 is electrically separated fromtrench silicide 130.

FIG. 21 shows an alternate arrangement in which a non-gate contact area162 is formed over gate 106. With this arrangement, the tungsten 116 ingate 106 is etched, a cap 126 is formed over the gate, and the gate capis covered by metal layer 140, similar to gates 104 and 110. Alsosimilar to the structure shown in FIG. 18, a tungsten layer is formed tocover gates 104, 106, 110; and this tungsten layer is etched andreplaced with oxide, similar to as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. However,with this procedure, tungsten portion 154 is kept apart from thetungsten 116 of gate 104.

In the resulting arrangement, shown in FIG. 21, non-gate contact area162 is in contact with trench silicide 132 but not gate 106, and thegate 106 is electrically separated from contact area 162 and bothsilicide trenches 130 and 132.

Embodiments of the invention provide gate and non-gate contacts thatselectively connect the device gates to silicide trenches whilemaintaining the desired trench silicide metal-to-spacer structure intactand thereby avoid trench silicide shorts. Also, the process flows aresimple and, for example, do not require any SiN etch to contact gateconductor, and the process flows are extendible to future technologynodes.

The description of the invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope of the invention. The embodimentsdisclosed are described in order to explain principles and applicationsof the invention, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art tounderstand the invention. The invention may be implemented in variousembodiments with various modifications as are suited to a particularuse.

1. A method of fabricating a semiconductor structure comprising asemiconductor substrate, a dielectric layer on the substrate, and aplurality of gates located within the dielectric layer, above thesubstrate, the plurality of gates including a first gate and a pair ofadjacent gates on sides of the first gate, and each of the gatesincluding a gate electrode, the method comprising: forming gate caps onthe pair of adjacent gates, including etching portions of the gateelectrodes in said adjacent gates to recess the gate electrodes therein,and forming the caps on said adjacent gates above the recessed gateelectrodes; masking the first gate during the etching; after forming thegate caps on the pair of adjacent gates, forming conductive metaltrenches in the dielectric layer and on the sides of the first gate,between the first gate and the adjacent gates, each of the metaltrenches being spaced from and electrically separated from the firstgate; and after forming the conductive metal trenches, forming a contactover and directly on a top of the gate electrode of the first gate andlaterally extending from the top of the gate electrode of the firstgate, to and directly on a top of one of the conductive metal trenchesto connect electrically the first gate and said one of the conductivemetal trenches.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the formingthe contact includes: depositing a metal material over and into contactwith the first gate and said one of the metal trenches to form thecontact in electrical contact with the first gate and said one of themetal trenches while keeping the gate electrically separated from asecond of the conductive metal trenches.
 3. The method according toclaim 2, wherein: the forming the contact further includes forming aninsulating layer over the series of gates and the conductive metaltrenches, and removing a portion of the insulating layer to form an openarea over and extending to the gate electrode of the first gate and theone of the conductive metal trenches; and the depositing a metalmaterial includes depositing a metal fill in said open area to form thecontact.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein: the removing aportion of the insulating layer includes maintaining the insulatinglayer over the second of the conductive metal tranches; and thedepositing a metal fill includes using the insulating layer to keep themetal fill separated from the second of the conductive metal trenches tokeep the first gate electrically separated from the second of theconductive metal trenches.
 5. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe forming the contact includes: depositing a conductive material aboveand on the first gate and the conductive metal trenches; and etchingaway a portion of the conductive material from a second of theconductive metal trenches to form the contact in electrical contact withthe first gate and said one of the metal trenches while keeping thefirst gate electrically separated from the second of the conductivemetal tranches.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the contactis a gate-contact; the semiconductor structure defines a top plane; thedielectric layer and the plurality of gates extend downward from saidtop plane; the etching portions of the gate electrodes in the adjacentgates includes etching the gate electrodes in the adjacent gates inwardfrom said top plane; and the forming conductive metal trenches in thedielectric layer includes: forming the conductive metal tranches afterthe caps are formed on the adjacent gates, and forming the conductivemetal trenches inward from said top plane.
 7. A method of fabricating asemiconductor structure comprising a semiconductor substrate, adielectric layer on the substrate, and a plurality of gates locatedwithin the dielectric layer, above the substrate, the plurality of gatesincluding a first gate and a pair of adjacent gates on sides of thefirst gate, and each of the gates including a gate electrode, the methodcomprising: forming gate caps on the pair of adjacent gates; afterforming the gate caps, forming conductive metal tranches in thedielectric layer and on the sides of the first gate, between the firstgate and the adjacent gates, each of the metal trenches being spacedfrom and electrically separated from the first gate; after forming theconductive metal trenches, forming a contact over and directly on a topof the gate electrode of the first gate and laterally extending from thetop of the gate electrode of the first gate, to and directly on a top ofone of the conductive trenches to connect the contact electrically withsaid one of the conductive metal trenches.
 8. The method according toclaim 7, wherein the forming the contact includes: depositing a metalmaterial over the first gate and over and onto said one of the metaltrenches to form the contact in electrical contact with said one of themetal trenches while keeping the first gate electrically separated froma second of the conductive metal trenches.
 9. The method according toclaim 8, wherein: the forming the contact further includes forming aninsulating layer over the plurality of gates and the conductive metaltrenches, and removing a portion of the insulating layer to form an openarea over the gate electrode of the first gate and over and extending tothe one of the conductive metal trenches; and the depositing a metalmaterial includes depositing a metal fill in said open area to form thecontact.
 10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the depositing themetal fill includes maintaining the metal fill separated from the gateelectrode of the first gate to keep the first gate electricallyseparated from the contact and the one of the conductive metal trenches.11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the forming a contactincludes: depositing a conductive material above the first gate andabove and on the conductive metal trenches; and etching away a portionof the conductive material from a second of the conductive metaltrenches to form the contact in electrical contact with said one of themetal trenches while keeping the first gate electrically separated fromthe conductive metal tranches.
 12. The method according to claim 11,wherein: the contact is a non-gate contact; and the forming a contactfurther includes forming an insulating layer over said second of theconductive metal trenches to keep the contact and said one of theconductive metal trenches electrically separated from said second of theconductive metal trenches.
 13. A semiconductor structure comprising: asemiconductor substrate; a dielectric layer on the substrate; aplurality of gates located within the dielectric layer, above thesubstrate, the plurality of gates including a first gate and a pair ofadjacent gates on sides of the first gate, each of the gates including agate electrode, and each of the adjacent gates including a gate cap; apair of conductive metal trenches formed in the dielectric layer, on thesides of the center gate, between the center gate and the adjacentgates; and a gate contact positioned over and on the gate electrode ofthe first gate and one of the conductive trenches to connectelectrically the first gate and said one of the conductive metaltrenches.
 14. The semiconductor structure according to claim 13, whereinthe contact includes a metal material deposited over and into contactwith the first gate and said one of the metal trenches to form thecontact in electrical contact with the first gate and said one of themetal trenches while keeping the first gate electrically separated froma second of the conductive metal trenches.
 15. The semiconductorstructure according to claim 14, further comprising an insulating layerover the second of the conductive metal trenches to keep the first gateelectrically separated from the second of the conductive metal trenches.16. The semiconductor structure according to claim 14, wherein theinsulating layer electrically separates the contact from the second ofthe conductive metal trenches.
 17. A semiconductor structure comprising:a semiconductor substrate; a dielectric layer on the substrate; aplurality of gates located within the dielectric layer, above thesubstrate, the plurality of gates including a first gate and a pair ofadjacent gates on sides of the first gate, each of the gates including agate electrode, and each of the adjacent gates including a gate cap; apair of conductive metal trenches formed in the dielectric layer, on thesides of the center gate, between the center gate and the adjacentgates; and a non-gate contact positioned over the gate electrode of thefirst gate and over and on one of the conductive trenches to connect thecontact electrically with said one of the conductive metal trenches. 18.The semiconductor structure according to claim 17, wherein: the contactincludes a metal material deposited over the first gate and over andonto said one of the metal trenches to form the contact in electricalcontact with said one of the metal trenches while keeping the first gateelectrically separated from a second of the conductive metal trenches.19. The semiconductor structure according to claim 18, wherein: themetal fill is maintained separated from the gate electrode of the firstgate to keep the first gate electrically separated from the contact andfrom the conductive metal trenches.
 20. The semiconductor structureaccording to claim 17, wherein the first gate includes a gate capseparating the gate electrode of the first gate from the contact.
 21. Amethod of fabricating a semiconductor structure comprising asemiconductor substrate, a dielectric layer on the substrate, and aplurality of gates located within the dielectric layer, above thesubstrate, the plurality of gates including a first gate and a pair ofadjacent gates on sides of the first gate, and each of the gatesincluding a gate electrode, the method comprising: recessing the gateelectrodes of the pair of adjacent gates; forming gate caps on the pairof adjacent gates; after forming the gate caps on the pair of adjacentgates, forming conductive metal trenches on the sides of the first gate,between the first gate and the adjacent gates, each of the metaltrenches being spaced from and electrically separated from the firstgate; and after forming the conductive metal trenches, forming a contactover and directly on a top of the gate electrode of the first gate andlaterally extending from the top of the gate electrode of the firstgate, to and directly on a top of, and in electrical contact with one ofthe conductive metal trenches to connect electrically the contact andsaid one of the conductive metal trenches.
 22. The method according toclaim 21, wherein: the contact is a gate contact; and the forming acontact includes: forming an insulating layer over the plurality ofgates and the conductive metal trenches; removing a portion of theinsulating layer to form an open area over and extending to the gateelectrode of the first gate and said one of the conductive metaltrenches; and depositing a metal material in said open area to form thegate contact electrically connecting the first gate and said one of theconductive metal trenches while keeping the first gate electricallyseparated from a second of the conductive metal trenches.
 23. The methodaccording to claim 22, wherein the forming the contact further includesforming an insulating layer over the series of gates and the conductivemetal trenches, and removing a portion of the insulating layer to forman open area over and extending to the gate electrode of the first gateand the one of the conductive metal trenches; and the depositing a metalmaterial includes depositing a metal fill in said open area to form thecontact.
 24. The method according to claim 21, wherein: the gate is anon-gate contact; and the forming the contact includes: depositing aconductive material above the first gate and above and on the conductivemetal trenches; and etching away a portion of the conductive materialfrom a second of the conductive metal trenches to form the contact inelectrical contact with said one of the metal trenches while keeping thefirst gate electrically separated from the conductive metal tranches.25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the forming gate capsincludes forming a gate cap on the first gate to keep the first gateseparated from the contact and the conductive metal trenches.